plan de travail
The English phrase kitchen counter is translated into French as plan de travail.
This phrase refers specifically to the flat surface in a kitchen used for preparing food.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, plan de travail translates to 'work plan' or 'work surface'.
Which one should you use?
While comptoir can mean a counter, use plan de travail when referring to the functional food preparation surface in a kitchen.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural plans de travail (kitchen counters), add an 's' to plan but do not add one to travail.
Did you know?
- The word travail in plan de travail shares an ancient root with the word 'torture'. It originates from the Latin 'tripalium', a device used for torture consisting of three stakes.
- In French, the term plan de travail is not limited to the kitchen. You can use this exact same phrase to describe a flat workspace in a garage, an artist's studio, or any other workshop.
- If you are at home, avoid calling your surface a comptoir. To a French speaker, that word evokes the image of a commercial bar or a service desk in a shop rather than a place to chop vegetables.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous m'apporter les ustensiles de cuisine situés sur le plan de travail ?Excuse me, could you bring me the kitchen utensils located on the kitchen counter?
- Le chef prépare les plats derrière le comptoir de cuisine.The chef is preparing the dishes behind the kitchen counter.
- Je suis en train de nettoyer le plan de travail avant de préparer le repas.I am cleaning the kitchen counter before preparing the meal.
- Pose les clés sur le plan de travail.Put the keys on the kitchen counter.
- Le plan de travail est très propre.The kitchen counter is very clean.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are in the kitchen preparing a meal.
- EmmaHugo, peux-tu couper les légumes sur le plan de travail ?Hugo, can you cut the vegetables on the kitchen counter?
- HugoOui, mais le plan de travail est un peu encombré.Yes, but the kitchen counter is a bit cluttered.
- EmmaJe vais tout ranger pour te laisser de la place.I will tidy everything up to give you space.
- HugoMerci, c'est beaucoup plus pratique comme ça.Thanks, it is much more practical this way.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry plan de travail, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, plan, travail, CC BY-SA 4.0.
